BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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greenmonkey, good luck tomorrow! your story is so funny, you are a brave girl, be sure to carry alittle cash when you go out next time, you won't have those expanders to protect you.
I want the computerized implants, only problem is I usually need my kids to show me how to operate the computer.
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Digitalcowgirl: From the HEADER above....
3. IMPLANT SIZING INFORMATION:
If you are interested in discussing implant sizes, make sure you compile and provide us with the following information:
Height, weight, ribcage measurement [measuring the circumference of your ribcage under your tissue expander(s) or under your bra line]. Also, if you have TEs [tissue expanders] - we need to know about them. The style - Mentor or Allergan most likely - and whether they are short height, moderate height, full height if Mentor and style number if Allergan. We also need the recommended fill volume of the TEs - the number of cc's. (NOTE: If you have PMT Corporation tissue expanders or any other unlisted manufacturer, please see if your PS will provide you with the dimensions of such devices.]0 -
Lisa96, true story! I think most of this happens so that I will have something to write about.
(back drip on story).... I walked away from my husband, with my daughter, because we were given (at the last minute) backstage passes to the main act. My husband knew I was with my daughter and got tired of waiting for me to resurface so he left. After the concert.... I told my daughter it was ok to go because my husband would come back. My husband didn't come back because he knew I was with my daughter. I didnt' carry anything because the jazz fest is all about dancing and I didn't want to misplace my cell, or my wallet. It made sense at the time but now..... hmmm... not so much!
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Thank you Whippetmom. I will have to get all the TE info from my PS's office. I did not get a card, nor do I even know the brand. I do appreciate the help, so will post once I get the info.
Blessings, thanks for talking me off the ledge. I have not cried about any of this since today and I just lost it. Surgery was over 2 months ago and I thought I was thru the knot hole.. Today I woke up with pain and my side boobs really got on my nerves. I looked down and saw the huge gap between my boobs and melted down.. I don't have any explanation other than being so uncomfortable and mangled looking.
Lisa, you're right that PS's are not magicians. I know I will never be the same and really don't care about the scars, but my boobs are literally so far on the sides they are moving into my back. I just can't see how my PS can make me look human again. And today was just a bad day. Maybe I am expecting too much, not sure.
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DigitalCowgirl - Sorry you're having a rotten day. It's a lot to take in, a lot to deal with. First, we feel our bodies have totally betrayed us and we suddenly embark on a journey we didn't know existed just a few months earlier.
I have done really well overall, but just when I think the worst is behind me, the tears will flow. But it happens less and less. Don't beat yourself up - just know that you will have good days and bad days and try to take it one step at a time.
Once you have info about your TEs you can send some pix to whippetmom. She's very wise and is great about helping to figure out what questions to ask. Hang in there!
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Digitalcowgirl:
You can send me your photos also...privately via email. PM me if you want to do so. I want to assess that expanse between the TEs. Also, please PM me with the name of your PS....
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DigitalCowgirl - big gentle hugs to you!!!0
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GreenMonkey:
Wow, I was scared and enthralled by your story! I doubt I could ever have such an effective comeback like you whipped out! You are one witty, brave and tough cookie! Thank goodness these were decent people and that your instincts were on target that you could trust them! Sometimes I do feel like having "survived breast cancer" and BMX should make me almost invincible and able to cut through perceived obstacles and overcome all lesser problems! Perhaps it has given me a bit more confidence but that remains to be seen. Just like my noobs (I like to call them "new boobs" rather than foobs, as I want to see them as adopted to become an integral part of me), this new me may take awhile to feel really comfortable with. It is a lot to adjust to. Since I have been very open with everyone, as soon as they see me people are constantly asking me how things are going, how is the healing, any side-effects from tamoxifen, etc.
However, I found I can escape into my professional world where I will not annonce to everyone that I had breast cancer. I won't hide the fact, however, and if it comes up, I will address it to a certain extent. I want to always be an advocate for women over 40 getting annual mammograms (which is what allowed me to catch my BC so early stage requiring BMX but avoiding radiation and chemotherapy). I just had my first meeting on a small consulting project I have started and it was such a relief to have no one there know about what I had been through! No one asked me about my health or stared at my bust! This is a real incentive for me to get out there and get on with my life!
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digitalcowgirl i felt the same way about my tes. mine were so lopsided i looked freakish. But the exchange was a huge success, at least 3 months later it was. it took a while for them to settle but now the implants look very much like my old boobs but perkier. granted it's not perfect recon never is it's not like augmentation. I don't have the playboy boobs i was hoping for. They are a little wide and dont project quite as much as I hoped. But in a bra, in clothes they look great. I still have one more surgery for fine tuning and nips so I am feeling pretty good aobut the turn out so far.0
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So on Monday I have my pre-exchange appt with my dreamy PS (sigh)
I have the info Whippetmom PM'd me. I hope I ask all the right questions, although I do have great trust in him. I guess the reality is starting to hit home. Up until now, its been temporary, but this is the real deal now. Trying not to freak.
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Waaaaaa....
I was supposed to meet with my PS this morning to set an exchange date, but he had to be in the OR and I got rescheduled to next Friday.
The nurse felt so bad about it, she gave me an HOUR with him next week - just for a consultation!
(I'm THAT patient who always comes in with two pages of questions....
)TIRED of these TEs! Need new ta tas STAT!!!!!
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Hello everyone...
I have had some good news - My PS has said that I'm healing nicely & should be due for exchange in 2-3 months! (when I heard this my jaw totally dropped! - I was not expecting so soon, especially after the complications I had.)
My PS then asked I was happy wtih the size of my breast (TE:MX13 - 500 ccs - 13 cm width and 12 cm height and 6.7 cm projection expanded to 300cc during revision surgery) & He has now ordered 300cc anatomicals for my exchange. However, I didn't realise I was still swollen after my op, and said yes...BUT now a 3 weeks has passed, my swelling's reduced even more & I feel that 300cc is too small, especially when I read that implants when exchanged are smaller than TE's.Whippetmom: I see my PS on Monday 23/7/12 . I will request some more filling.Im really concerned about ending up with a small wide flat breast, especially as the width of the TE means Im fitting into a D cup underwire, but not projecting enough to fill a 34D well.I will ask for more filling on Monday, but am confused about how more CC's translate into a breast with good projection. Are anotomical implants much smaller that their TE's?
From having my TE, I've grown to like having a cleavage - as I never had one in all my 34A days!! As My PS will not revise my implants if the size is too small so i have one shot at getting it right!Lago - looks like I'm im the 34D club too - in terms of underwire bras that do not touch my TE at all. I want to stay at this size -with my new cleavage, it makes me feel really feminine again!Thanks in advanceBuddhawolf0 -
300 cc anatomicals will be quite small, BuddhaWolf. Since you need to get it right the first time, you will want to have a serious conversation with your PS about sizing.
The anatomical needs to fit the space created by the TE. Ask him exactly WHICH anatomical he intends to use. Frankly, if I thought there was no possibility for a revision down the road, I would go with a silicone round instead. What happens if the anatomical rotates a month after the exchange? Will he not fix it?
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Whippetmom: I hear exactly what you mean. I thought they sounded small, especially as there is an appx 100g difference betreen the volume of the TE & the implant fitted. So an inflation to 400ccs= appx 300g inplant.
eg
MX13 - 500 ccs - 13 cm width and 12 cm height and 6.7 cm projectionIMPLANT410MX - 410 grams - 13 cm width and 12.1 cm height and 6.1 cm projection
I will ask him I think he only does anatomicals - his specialty; but I will ask about rounds.
As I'm 44 yr old, I thought that anatomicals would give a more realistic, age appropriate look, and was happy to have them over the beckers I was offered. But I am hearing on this site that they are really firm?
Ladies with anatomicals: Are they as firm as the TE's?!? Please let me know...!
Im sure if the implant rotated it would be revised, but if I say I'm not happy with size I doubt it would be revised due to costs on NHS. (ie This wouldnt be medically urgent to repair.
My thinking is to get inflated to the max and ask what size final implant I will get. This may prolong my exchange time, but I think its worth it.
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Blessings, that sewing teacher comment cracked me up! My first thought upon viewing my BMX sutures was that my PS could benefit from a home ec class.
So... had my exchange yesterday. All I know is I have 475 HP inplants. I am smaller than my TE's (understood that I would be) but if these stay positioned as they are I'll be thrilled. I have another appointment tomorrow. I think my PS told me I could go larger if I wanted to, that my pocket could handle a 500?
She also told me I could get a local to do my nipps if I wanted to. I don't know WHAT I think about that. I'm afraid I'll be barking out orders, "to the left, no down a bit, no, no, a bit higher..."
DigitialCowgirl, so many highs and lows and DOUBTS in this process. We're here for you! we've all had them at one point or another.
BTW, has anyone gone in for surgery and come out with a scratched cornea?
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BuddaWolf: I have anatomical Mentor CPG 332 Gel Breast Implant Cohesives III, which were placed immediately totally sub-muscular , here in Switzerland. So I can't compare to the firmness of having TE's. However, now it is 2 months post-BMX and they are softening but are still fairly firm. My PS says they are doing well and will continue to soften. I never heard anything about them rotating!! I really don't see how they could, unless I was like, regularly participating in violent, twisting orgies during tornadoes or something. I still sleep on my back and sides, eventhough doc said I could sleep on stomach now. He never had me massage them, like I have heard some PS's do. So they have stayed in place from where they were from the beginning, but still have been changing in looks, because the swelling at first makes them look a certain way. Then I started as the swelling receded, I was seeing the ridge along the top of the upperpole which bothered me. But that seems to be fading away. I am 53 and definitely wanted an age-appropriate shape. I'm still getting used to my noobs (new boobs), but I am grateful to be tumor-free now with a new lease on life. Thank goodness for this forum which has been my lifeline. BuddaWolf, I hope you find all the info you need to decide and wish you a smooth transition!0
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Fearless.... love the name noob instead of foob! I'm adapting that as well!
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GreenMonkey, you are so funny! The barking out orders part reminded me of sitting in the hairdresser's chair. I had my exchange and lift a week ago today. Don't know what the implant size looks like yet, but the lifted breast looks better than it did when it was heading towards my stomach! Stitches interesting to say the least. I think if I wanted to tweak my boobies, my husband would tie me up and gag me (and I wouldn't blame him).
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I know what you mean digitalcowgirl. I had bmx on 06.15.12 with TE's. My PS will not fill during chemo which must begin by 08.15.12. I am currently at 300cc and would like to be a C cup. My PS says need to be at about 600cc. I have been surprised that people are talking about TE fills every two to three weeks. I have been having them weekly and now my PS is going to try to do twice weekly to finish before chemo. I've trusted him completely, he is known to be the best in my area.
I had a 60cc fill yesterday. Because these TE boobd are flat, wide, in my armpits and hard as rocks I asked the PS..."So are these TE's gonna look like boobs when they are full?" He explained they are shaped like triangles and will likely be a little pointy. Nice! At least they are not killing me, because the other ones were!
One day at a time Digi. I am so sorry you are struggling. Gentle hugs.
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Hi gals,
Thanks for your warm words of support and for giving me hope that these TEs will straighten out. Hugs back to you all. This week my chest has felt so tight and numb but sore all at the same time. I even have soreness right under my shoulder blades on my back. This last fill has not agreed with me at all and it's been hard to be at work. I'm working thru it with your help.
Whippetmom, I will take some pics this weekend and PM you. Thanks again! I have an appointment with my PS on Thursday and can't imagine how she will fit another 100 ccs in here without my boobs exploding out my sides.
ckolendar, my PS is very conservative and schedules fills 2.5 to 3 weeks apart. She'll fill 100 to 130 ccs at the time. Many other PS do them weekly so I guess every case is different.
Hope everyone is doing well. Hang in there and keep your knockers up :-)
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DigitalCowgirl - Those are big fills. You don't have to have that many cc's at a time. Ask him to cut it down to 50 or 75?
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Thanks Dawne-Hope. It never occurred to me to question the amount of my fills.. My first 4 were about 100 each and I had no problems at all. My last was 130 so I will ask my PS to back down.
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DigitalCowgirl - I did really well with fills. PS and/or his PA use a standard 50cc fill, but let the patient decide how to space them as long as at least 1 week apart. Always offered to let me go back and have saline pulled out if I was uncomfortable. So, there are options....less saline, more time, back off.0
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yet another silly question or two:
Do you get a "card" for your implants like we did for our TE's?
and does anyone know the pro's and con's between smooth and textured implants?
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Yes, you should get a card for your implants.
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Yes, I got a card. Pros for textured: lesser chance of capsular contracture. Pros for smooth: less rippling.
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ahhhh... thank you MondaysChild and Mooleen!
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I have a question reguarding the TE's. My original ps wants to do the TE's after 6 month. I will not be using him again because he lied to me about getting the feeling back in my chest. I have visited another ps and she wants to wait a year and she said since I had implants before and since I had a tissue and nipple sparing surgery with the DIEP flap that I do not need to do the expanders I can just go straight for the implants. I am visiting another ps at the beginning of Aug. before I make a decision on the rest of the reconstruction, but is it normal or even just heard of for a ps to not do the te's? Thank you!
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DigitalCowgirl: That is way too much fill at one time! What is the rush here? It is better to fill less and take it more slowly.
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GreenMonkey: The risk differential between textured and smooth is not significant enough to warrant using textured implants for reconstruction. Textured ROUNDS are terrible for reconstruction. 'Nuff said.
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